What is Baptism?
Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become His disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the church, oneself and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a visual and symbolic demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection. It signifies that a person’s former way of life has been put to death and depicts a release from the mastery of sin.
As a symbol, baptism illustrates a number of significant realities:
Christ’s death and resurrection
The disciple’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection
The new life in which a disciple walks
Cleansing and washing away of sin
- To obey the commands of Christ
- To evidence that a person is a disciple of Christ
- To follow the example of Christ
- Believer’s Baptism is the practice of baptizing only those who are able to make a profession of faith. Believer’s baptism is also called credobaptism. The word credo comes from the Latin for “creed” or to believe a creed.
By immersion.
- The Greek word βαπτίζω (baptizo) literally means to plunge, submerge or immerse.
- The representation of union in Christ’s death and resurrection is best expressed through immersion. (Romans 6)
- The surrounding context of baptisms in the Scriptures suggests baptism by immersion.